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2011 Hiking Schedule


Each month the Swannanoa Valley Museum hosts at least one hike. This year, we have added the Swannanoa Rim Explorer series as well. The following hikes are tentatively planned for 2011. This schedule is subject to change, so please check with the museum for time of hike, details, and confirmation.

Hikers on the Mt. Mitchell Trail

Jan. 22: Depot to Depot Hike.

Feb. 19: Swannanoa Rim Hike: Rhododendron Rim, from Begley home on Sunset Mountain to Route 9.

Mar. 5: Hike to Upper Catawba Falls.

Mar. 19: Swannanoa Rim Hike: Weatherford Heights, above Blue Ridge Assembly, from Jesse's High Top to Route 9.

Apr. 16: Swannanoa Rim Hike: Cherokee Boundary, from Begley home to Swannanoa Gap.

Apr. 17: Thomas Wolfe House and Riverside Cemetery Tour; Lunch at Pack Tavern.

Apr. 30: Sunset Photography Hike on Potato Knob.

May 7: Mitchell Falls Hike.

May 14: Wildflower Hike to Pearson’s Falls.

May 21: Swannanoa Rim Hike: Montreat East Ridge.

June 18: Swannanoa Rim Hike: Pinnacle on the Blue Ridge.

July 16: Swannanoa Rim Hike: Grey Eagle Rock.

August 20: Swannanoa Rim Hike: Patton's Table.

August 24: Hike to Rattlesnake Lodge.

September 17: Swannanoa Rim Hike: Walker Knob.

October 15: Swannanoa Rim Hike: Buckner's Knob.

November 5: Pisgah Tower Hike.

November 19: Swannanoa Rim Hike: Top of Brushy and High Top of Bee Tree.

December 10: Swanannoa Creek Hike.

December 17: Swannanoa Rim Hike: Garden of Eden.

Upper Catawba Falls by Van BurnettWith the exception of special fundraising hikes -- July 4th Fireworks Hike, Rim Hikes and Old Toll Road Caravan -- all hikes are $10 for Museum members, $20 for non-members. Unless otherwise posted, hikes will commence at the parking lot at Black Mountain Savings Bank, 200 E. State St, Black Mountain. Please call or email the Museum to make reservations and also to make sure the times/dates/hikes have not changed during the year. 828-669-9566, or e-mail.

Any hikes which cross United States Forest Service property are by Special Use Permit.




Guide for New Hikers - An Introduction to the Swannanoa Valley Museum’s Hikes (adapted from Carolina Mountain Club’s guidelines)

Hiking is an easy and enjoyable way to get exercise. However, if you do not exercise regularly or have a health-related condition it is important that you consult with a doctor before starting on a new exercise program.

The Swannanoa Valley Museum has several hikes a month that vary in difficulty as well as one or two “daycations” each month that can generally accommodate people of all abilities. Please visit our Events Calendar (can you link this to the Calendar?) to find out what events are scheduled this month.

Each hike and daycation is rated for difficulty from “Easy” to “Strenuous.” Click here (please link to Hike Difficult Scale) to read more specifically about our rating scale. Each event is rated with Easy, Moderate, Difficult, or Strenuous on our Event Calendar. It is important for you to know what you are capable of before you select and attend a hike. This is easy if you have some experience going on our hikes. It may not be clear for people that are new to hiking, particularly hiking in North Carolina’s mountains. For new hikers or people who are not sure of their capabilities we suggest beginning with an Easy or Moderate hike and using that experience to assess how they feel on and after the hike. New hikers can gradually increase the difficulty in length and altitude change on subsequent hikes. Most people that have been doing other exercise programs, like long walks in the hills, running, biking, and other sports can start with a Moderate hike without much difficulty.

Non-members are welcome on Swannanoa Valley Museum hikes; after doing a few hikes with us we recommend joining the Museum as you will not only support the museum on an annual basis, but you will receive significant discounts on all of your future hikes and daycations. To view membership information please click here. (Please link to Membership page.)

Everyone who participates in a Museum hike is completely responsible for themselves—their health and safety. In particular this means being healthy and fit enough, before the hike, to go on the particular hike without damaging themselves or slowing down others significantly. Each person should carry all the medications that they might need during a hike. For example, someone that is allergic to bee stings must carry whatever medications might be necessary in case of multiple bee stings.

A few new hikers may have difficulty with even our easiest hikes. We ask new hikes to call the hike leader beforehand so that the leader can be confident that the hike will be comfortable for the hiker. We want to make sure that every new hiker has a good experience from the beginning. Please call the Museum at 828-669-9566 to talk to our director if you are unsure about your ability to do any of the hikes.

Click here (Right click and choose Save As) to download the Guide for New Hikers

SVM Hike Difficulty Rating System

Our hiking committee has created a rating system for our hikes and Daycations that rates the difficulty of the event on a scale from Easy to Strenuous. Most Daycations are rated Easy. If people are interested in knowing how difficult a hike is please look up the hike in this book and then refer to this rating system to help them decide if they are able to attend the event. (This is particularly the case for the Rim Hikes as some, though short in distance, are very strenuous.)

Easy: The hike is mostly level with easy hills mixed in and the walking is relatively smooth. You can certainly expect tree roots, small rocks, and things of that sort on any trail walk but for hikes rated as "easy" there won't be any big-step-up boulders to get past and no rock scrambling.

If a hike is long and flat, it will likely get a rating of "easy" in spite of its long distance. If a hike is short but has more than minimal elevation gain, it can also be rated as "easy" due to the overall level of the hike. i.e. If a big hill only accounts for a tenth of a mile of a hike, then it's probably something that people accustomed to walking on flat terrain can handle.

Easy hikes are generally suitable for anyone that enjoys walking. Just remember to choose an easy hike with a distance that you can comfortably handle.

Easy/Moderate: This rating typically describes hikes that are not flat but whose elevation gain is less than 500 feet per mile. For an easy/moderate hike, you should definitely be prepared for a lot of uphill walking. Overall the uphills will be on the gentle side but there may be some short steeper sections.

Moderate: Hikes rated as "moderate" usually gain 500-800 feet per mile. Moderate hikes usually ascend steadily at an incline that would be difficult for an unconditioned person to comfortably handle. Hikes are up to 8 miles round trip. Moderate hikes are generally on established trails that can be rocky and steep in places. Elevation gain is up to 2000'.

Difficult: This level is used for challenging hikes. Perhaps the average elevation gain falls within the criteria for "moderate" but there are enough steeper sections or rough segments to warrant a higher rating. This may also describe hikes that are quite steep but short enough in distance to give it an overall feel of something less than "strenuous". Hikes may be on poorly defined trails or include off-trail sections, be unusually rough or dangerous, or encounter unexpected obstacles.

This category is for experienced hikers in good physical condition. Because of poorly defined trails or off-trail situations, it is important that hikers on hard hikes stay together for safety reasons, so those attending must be capable of keeping up with the group and going the whole distance.

Strenuous: Hike may be especially long, have a large elevation gain, or is over difficult and/or exposed terrain. The hike is clearly difficult with steep inclines and often rough footing and/or rock scrambles. The elevation gain is usually greater than 800 feet per mile and is oftentimes 1,000 feet or more per mile (which is very steep). Particularly for Rim Hikes, a strenuous hike may include some or lots of bushwhacking.

Click here (Right click and choose Save As) to download the SVM Hike Difficulty Rating System

What to Pack for a Day Hike

Bringing the proper equipment on your hike will greatly add to your enjoyment and safety while on the trail—as well as to the enjoyment and safety of the rest of the group. The items listed below are essential if you are going into the woods for more than a couple of hours. Before you leave make sure you are comfortable with all your equipment and know how and where it fits in your pack. Do not plan to carry anything in your hands or have a jacket tied around your waist. (These can cause you to trip.) Everything should fit in your daypack. Carry even your wallet and keys in your daypack at all times.

How to dress: Dress in layers. Your first layer should be a short-sleeved t-shirt (synthetic, not cotton) even if it seems cool in the morning. You will warm up. Your second layer should be a long-sleeve shirt (also synthetic). If you need extra layers, you will have your warm hiking sweater and rain jacket. Shorts give you mobility and keep you cooler; pants give you more protections from insects and brush.

Click here (Right click and choose Save As) to download What to Pack for a Day Hike